Second Wolfsburg – Move 12

1900-2000 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 12

As night falls both reinforcing corps are too far away to influence the battle

Both sides have put fresh brigades into the town

Top left Prussian POW being escorted off battlefield

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – 4 CP - Engage

Artillery fire on enemy artillery (6) but miss

Marmont moves to centre of town

21 infantry rout back towards their supports

Skirmish 23 French (6) with 3 Prussian (6)

3 Prussian receive third casualty

3 Prussian test (4) and fail morale and rout

22 French test (6) for rout, fail and continue to rout

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Hold

Artillery fire (3) on infantry and miss

Move shaken 1 infantry behind supports

Yorck moves to centre of town

Move routed 3 infantry behind supports

Skirmish 2 Prussian (1) with 21 French (4), no casualties

Test morale (4) for shaken 1 infantry, fail and remain shaken

Test morale (4) for routed 3 infantry, pass and become shaken

Prince Blucher (Average) – 5CP

Move to join 1^st corps

Change orders to retreat south towards 4^th corps

Move to 4^th corps

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 6CP – Engage

17 infantry advance 6”

19 infantry advance 6”

18 infantry advance 6”

Artillery advance 8”

20 infantry advance 8”

Cavalry escort prisoners to rear

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 7CP

No action

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) - 3CP – Engage

Artillery fire (4) on square and miss

Tauentzien move to rear column

Column advance 8” to west of town

Battle for Wolfsburg

Much confusion as brigades rout towards enemy

Three of the original four brigades have routed out of the town

Both sides have orders fresh brigades to join the fight

The French hold west Wolfsburg

Both sides contest east Wolfsburg

Table at the end of Move 12

Notes on Game

1^st Prussian corps has suffered heavy casualties of 16 infantry and 4 cavalry

This includes the infantry and cavalry brigade captured north of Wolfsburg

4^th Prussian corps has not suffered any casualties, nor played much part in the battle.

V French corps has not suffered any casualties, but their cavalry brigade has played a significant part in the battle. They defeated the Prussian cavalry and captured the whole brigade, plus a supporting infantry brigade.

VI French corps has suffered medium casualties or 9 infantry, including one brigade in rout.

Blucher has accepted defeat, and ordered 1^st corps to retreat towards 4^th corps

Under cover of darkness 4^th corps will retire south towards Helmstedt.

Davout is in a stronger position at the end of the battle than at the start.

He has joined V and VI corps, and occupies a central position.

This will allow him to move on Magdeburg via Helmstedt or Kalbe – or both

Second Wolfsburg – Move 11

1800-1900 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 11

Its starting to get messy

In west Wolfsburg the French brigade is routing towards the advancing Prussians

North of the town Prussian cavalry and infantry brigade are caught between the two French corps

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 6CP – Attack

Artillery fire on infantry (4) and miss

Yorck changes orders to Halt

Withdraws 1 infantry from west Wolfsburg

Replaces them with 2 infantry

Skirmish 2 Prussian (4) with 21 French (5) – no casualties

Skirmish 3 Prussian (4) with routed 22 French – no casualties

Shaken 1 infantry test morale (5), fail and remain shaken

French cuirassiers declare an Opportunity Charge on the shaken hussars

They pass the test and charge the hussars

French combat points 8

Hussars rout back into square

Square test morale (-2) fail and join rout

Both routs are halted by advancing French infantry brigade

Caught between infantry and cuirassiers the Prussians surrender

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) - 3CP - Engage

Cavalry advance 6”

Artillery advance 4” and unlimber

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 7CP

Move 32” to join 1^st corps

Change orders from Halt to Hold

Return 32” to 4^th corps

Prince Blucher (Average) – 7CP

No orders

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – 5CP - Engage

Artillery fire (6) on infantry column and miss

Cavalry advance 12” towards 4^th corps

23 infantry move into west Wolfsburg

22 infantry test morale (5) for rout, fail and continue to rout

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 5CP – Engage

Cavalry take control of Prussian prisoners

17 infantry advance 6” towards Wolfsburg

19 infantry advance 4” towards Wolfsburg and form column of attack

Artillery advance 8” towards Wolfsburg

20 infantry advance 8” towards Wolfsburg

Cuirassier brigade escort infantry and cavalry prisoners

Battle for Wolfsburg

22 French rout from west Wolfsburg

23 French enter to contest possession of the town

1 Prussian withdrawn from east Wolfsburg

2 Prussian replace them

21 French too many casualties to skirmish

Notes on Game

This is the first time I have ever had to take prisoners during a game

The Prussian infantry and cavalry rout was pinned by French infantry and cavalry

We have no rules for POW so had to agree what would happen

We agreed that the cavalry would escort the prisoners

As this happened just before nightfall we did not have to agree for how long

Second Wolfsburg – Move 10

1700-1800 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 10

The fighting continues in both sections of Wolfsburg

Davout and Blucher are trying to coordinate their widely separated corps

V French corps is arriving at the top of the table

4^th Prussian corps is entering at the bottom of the table

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – 7CP - Engage

Artillery fire on 4^th corps, but at 19” they are out of range

Marmont moves to command range of cavalry

Hussars about turn and move 7” towards 4^th corps

23 infantry advance 6” towards Prussian square

Skirmish 22 French (5) with 1 Prussian (1) – both miss

Skirmish 21 French (3) with 3 Prussian (6) – 1 French casualty

21 infantry tests morale (5) for second casualty – pass remain formed

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 6CP - Engage

17 infantry advance 4” and form column of attack

18 infantry advance 4” and form column of attack

19 infantry advance 8”

French cuirassiers charge enemy hussars

Prussian hussars test to counter charge (4), pass and charge

French combat factors 8

Prussian hussars retire 8” shaken

French cuirassiers halt disordered

Prince Blucher (Average) – 6CP

Move to 1^st corps

Change orders from Engage to Attack

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Attack

Artillery advance 4” and unlimber

2 infantry form column of attack from square

Yorck moves to centre of Wolfsburg

Orders both brigades in the town to attack

1 Prussian attack 21 French

Total combat points 5

Prussians retire 4”, shaken and two casualties

French halt disordered with one casualty

3 Prussian attack 22 French

Total combat points 11

Prussians disordered with one casualty

French rout with three casualties

French artillery pass morale (4) for nearby rout

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 7CP

No orders

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) - 4CP - Engage

Cavalry advance 6” and form line to cover corps deployment

Corps column advance 8”

Battle for Wolfsburg

Blucher orders Yorck to attack and clear the town

In east Wolfsburg the Prussian lose the melee and retire shaken

In west Wolfsburg they smash the French who rout from the town

Notes on Game

The loss of west Wolfsburg is a blow to VI French corps

They will have to move their artillery and try to organise a counter attack

They have held on to east Wolfsburg, but a Prussian counter attack is ready

The next two moves will decide whether a second day of battle is required

Second Wolfsburg – Move 9

1600-1700 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move

VI French corps have moved to the west of Wolfsburg

1^st Prussian corps are trying to move to the east of the town, but cavalry and infantry are pinned by French cavalry

V French corps are about to enter the table from the north

4^th Prussian corps are about to enter the t able from the south

Prince Blucher will arrive with 4^th corps

Marshal Davout will arrive with V corps.

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 4CP - Move

Cavalry advance 12” to cover corps approach

Corps move 8” to 16” from nearest enemy

Corps artillery are at the rear of the column

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Engage

French hussars declare Opportunity Charge on Prussian cavalry but fail test (2)

Prussian hussars form line and advance 7” towards V corps

4 infantry (square) move 2” to protect rear of hussars

Yorck moves to command range of artillery

2 infantry form square

Artillery advance 8” towards V corps

Skirmish 3 Prussian (1) with 22 French (4) – no hits

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) – 4CP - Move

Double corps move (16”) towards Wolfsburg

Prince Blucher (Average) – 7CP

Move 16” to join 4^th corps

Change orders from Move to Engage west of Wolfsburg

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – 5CP - Engage

Unlimber artillery facing 4^th corps

23 infantry move 6” towards Prussian square

24 infantry move 4” and form square to protect gunners

Skirmish 22 French (1) with 3 Prussian (2) – no hits

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 5CP

Move to join V corps

Change orders from Move to Engage east of Wolfsburg

Battle for Wolfsburg

Once more both commanders are concentrating on their redeployment

All quiet in east Wolfsburg

Skirmish in west Wolfsburg, but no casualties

Notes on Game

The two CinC have now taken command of the battle.

1^st Prussian have a problem with infantry and cavalry caught north of the town

The fighting for the town has eased as commanders use their command points to redeploy

V French and 4^th Prussian corps enter the table

V French have their artillery near the rear of the column, which will cause delay in deployment.

Second Wolfsburg – Move 8

1500-1600 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 8

Marmont is moving his corps to the left of Wolfsburg

This is in preparation for the arrival of 4^th Prussian corps from Helmstedt

He has left 1^st brigade in east Wolfsburg to cover this redeployment

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Engage

French declare Opportunity Charge on shaken Prussian hussars, but fail test

Prussian hussars turn left and move 8” behind friendly square

Yorck moves 16” to command range of artillery

Artillery limber and move 4” to east of town

Yorck moves 12” within command range of Wolfsburg

Skirmish 3 Prussian (4) and 22 French (4), both miss

Shaken hussars pass morale (4) rally and are now Disordered

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – 6CP - Engage

Cavalry advance 14” after Prussian hussars

Artillery move 8”

23 infantry move 6”

24 infantry move 8”

Skirmish 22 French (6) and 3 Prussian (5) both hit

22 French pass morale test (4)

3 Prussian pass morale test (6)

Battle for Wolfsburg

The fighting in east Wolfsburg dies down.

Both commanders concentrate on redeployment

In west Wolfsburg skirmish continues, both brigades have casualties

Both brigades pass morale test.

Notes on Game

With the approach of reinforcements both commanders concentrate on redeployment.

Both have to face enemy moving against their rear

The Prussians redeploy to the east of Wolfsburg

The French redeploy to the west of Wolfsburg

The fighting for the town helps both sides in this redeployment